2009 levergun

Voted for the .338, it looks like it may turn out to be a very versitile round.

Seems to me like the lower cost of the 30-30 is the best bet, and ammo will be more available. With leverevoulition ammo, it should be good to about 250+.

I voted for the 308 Marlin because it does have pretty good ballistics, but I do have concerns if it will have any longevity. The public can be fickle at times, and time will tell if there is a real niche for it.
Most of the time the 30-30 is all you need. I just loaded some yesterday. With Hornady about to release their Leverevolution reloading bullets, I'm looking forward to testing some loads when they are available.

NCsmitty

338 has my vote, but I have a 444 marlin and it would fit the bill as well

30-30 should be fine for those ranges. cheaper ammo, too.

obtw, the .444 is pretty fierce on the shoulder.

i went for the 338 because of the heavy round for brush shooting as well as knockdown for distance

30/30. Anything other than a traditional lever gun cartridge, I would have to opt for a Browning BLR in a bolt rifle cartridge. Just my opinion. Mine is a Marlin 1895Cb in 45-70. Loaded hot, not something you'd want to shoot all day.

do you guy's really expect to be able to buy ammunition for the MRX rounds in 10 heck even 5yrs down the road? Does anyone remember 307 or 356win? These new marlin rounds have nothing going for them that'll help them survive any better than Winchesters newest levergun rounds did in the 80's

stick with the 30-30

Good ole 30.30

I vote for a 30-30. just because of avalibility of ammo. They would be even better if you reloaded. You could load the first round with a ballistic tip for long range shots and have a couple flat points for back up.

I refused to vote because you failed to include the best lever rifle on the market for the distances you're going to be using it for-the browning BLR. IMO the browning BLR is in a class by itself and even tho the marlin is a very good rifle within it's limitations,it'll NEVER be able to stay with the browning BLRs in accuracy department. Yes,I DO realize a few marlins are exceedingly accurate but the whole platform isn't even in the same class. This observation is based on shooting a BUNCH of both types. Do yourself a HUGE favor and at least check out/handle a BLR before you commit and buy the marlin. Don't get me wrong,marlin has an excellent idea if only their rifles would shoot accurately enough to take advantage of the improved ballistics their new cartridges offer.

According to Marlin, "With ballistics comparable to the 308 Win., this cartridge is the highest performance round ever made for the traditional lever action rifle!

They do point out that performance is slightly under the .308 Winchester...,

So I wonder when speaking of ballistics..., do they mean for a traditional Marlin lever action rifle, OR do they claim that the venerated Winchester 88 lever action in .308 Winchester, isn't a "traditional lever action rifle"?

According to Marlin the new .308 Marlin "fills the gap" between the .307 Winchester and the .308 Winchester. Well Marlin has their 160 grain bullet with a MV of 2600 fps, and the .308 Winchester is at 2665 fps, while the . 307 Winchester with a 180 grain bullet is at 2510 fps. (Does the deer know the difference at impact?) I'm not sure there really is a need for the .308 Marlin, and the .307 Winchester is down to only one factory load choice, probably as there isn't a need for it either.

I'd prefer a .30-30, for as the man wrote, the ammo is alot easier to find.

LD

.30-30 is only good out to 150 yards and that's if you are a good shot. The .308 would be the best compromise of range and recoil.

30-30 is only good out to 150 yards and that's if you are a good shot.

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LOL I just love how the range 30-30 is "good out to" gets shorter and shorter as years go by. If you can connect your bullet to the target the 30-30 is still more effective at 300yds than a 357 magnum carbine is at 100

Hunting deer from the muzzle out to 300 yards and you need/want a lever gun. You have stated that the Browning BLR is out because of price & etc. The newer Marlin rounds look good on paper but if history repeats itself those rounds will be hard to come by in 5 to 10 years.

Have you given any thought to a Savage 99 in .243Win, .308Win or .358Win? All three of those rounds will do the job at 300 yards. The .243 and .308 are standards of the deer woods and the .358 is not that common but a great round if you want an over .30 round to deer hunt with.

The 99 can be picked up at resonable prices if you are willing to shop around. My vote would be for the Savage 99.

M'bogo

Can't go wrong with a Savage 99 in 308Win.

5 to 10 years down the road? I haven't seen the .308 or the .338 ever. Maybe I'm shopping at the wrong gun store.

From the Firing Line and a post by Baba Louie, who posts here too I think.

At 300 yds you're looking at 16" - 20" bullet drop (or sight holdover), 1200 fps - 1300 fps and maybe 650 - 700 ft/lbs of energy... so things are getting marginal in a hurry.

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My understanding is that with Hornady bullets it is a 150-175 yard cartridge. Yeah yeah I know one of you has a Marlin and can hit a dime out to 500 yards. Tell us all about it.